Chandor, once the site of ancient Chandrapura is today the forgotten capital of Goa. The Branganca family has been living here in the Branganca heritage house for a pretty long time.
There are two different monuments of their ancestors near the Chandor Church, where one monument is of Menezes Braganza family and the other monument is of Braganza Pereira family.
These heritage monuments are relics of past era that connect us to our past history. Incidentally, the Braganza family members are descendants of the freedom fighter and journalists Luis de Menezes Branganza who played an active role in the freedom moment to end the Portuguese colonial occupation of Goa.
There was also Tristao de Braganza Cunha, Bertha de Menezes Braganza who lead the liberation movement and our children today are still learning of the past history through books in school.
The sad part is that both the families are not interested in the upkeep of these historical monuments.
The place wears a pathetic look with trees and shrubs grown all over the walls. Also, there is danger that these monuments could collapse as the roots of the trees are entrenched in the walls.
The owners should protect this site by building a boundary wall between the two monuments so that our younger generation knows the historical significance of them.
The government on its side could step in and restore this heritage of yesteryears and back it back to its glory and grandeur.
